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Savannah

Description

From one of the industry leaders in quality instruments at affordable prices, Savannah offers the SA090-TSN A-style mandolin, a one of the best, fully-functional and economical mandolins available today. It offers you a spruce top and mahogany body, it has a comfortable, soft V maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, and gloss finish to help it make musical magic for yours.
Savannah SA090-TSN A Model Mandolin Sunburst
Savannah SA090-TSN A Model Mandolin Sunburst
Savannah SA090-TSN A Model Mandolin Sunburst

Features

Body
  • Body type: A-Model Mandolin
  • Cutaway: No
  • Top wood: Spruce
  • Back & sides: Mahogany
  • Bracing pattern: Single
  • Body finish: Gloss
  • Orientation: Right Handed
Neck
  • Neck shape: Soft V
  • Nut width: 1-1/8 in.
  • Fingerboard: Composite rosewood
  • Neck wood: Maple
  • Scale length: 13-3/4 in.
  • Number of frets: Info not available
  • Neck finish: Gloss
Electronics
  • Pickup/preamp: No
  • Brand: Not applicable
  • Configuration: Not applicable
  • Preamp EQ: Not applicable
  • Feedback filter: Not applicable
  • Tuner: Not applicable
Other
  • Headstock overlay: Black
  • Tuning machines: Open Gear Nickel
  • Bridge: Rosewood, Adjustable
  • Saddle & nut: Plastic
  • Number of strings: 8
  • Special features: None
  • Case: Sold separately
  • Accessories: None
  • Country of origin: China

Reviews

3.65

23 Reviews

75%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Super value mandolin!
Super value mandolin!
Super value mandolin!
Super value mandolin!
At SDOTD price it's barley ok!

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Great value for a banger!

I picked this up on impulse while on a work trip. I'd been wanting a mandolin for a while but hadn't pulled the trigger yet. Since I was going to have to carry it back on the plane I didn't want to over spend. I was just looking for something that if it got damaged, I would have already gotten my value from. This was it!! I wasn't sure how long the transition from guitar would take, but I bought this from GC on Friday, by Monday I was playing "Going to California" fairly clean. The tailpiece and pickguard hardware look a little cheap, but the machine heads look and feel good. No major tuning issues. GC setup had the intonation set pretty good. Tonal quality is impressive at this price point. My only complaint is that this instrument must have been sitting on the shelf for a while because the strings are corroded and need to be replaced for optimal sound. Honestly, I could have thrown this instrument away at the end of my 5 day business trip and would have felt like I got my monies worth out of it. But, I was so impressed with the quality of it, that I'd rather keep it around for a banger after I step up to a nicer model (which doesn't have to be right away since this thing plays and sounds so good). I am giving this instrument 5 stars for overall value. It is a pretty decent little instrument, especially when the price is taken into account. It isn't the finest mandolin on the market, but it also isn't the same price as the finer instruments. If you're picking one up to learn, or just want a decent mandolin that you don't mind if it gets beat up, this is perfect. One final thought - somebody at the airport was asking about my instrument and commented that it "looks expensive". I agree, Savannah did a good job on the finish (at least for the one I got).

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

2

Another strong case of "You get what you pay for"

I've played the mandolin for years, and I've tried many different grades/tiers/quality levels. I bought this for fun, just to keep another mandolin around but in a different tuning or with different string types/sizes. Yeah, no go. Mandolins are notoriously fussy about tuning, what with having 8 strings tuned to four notes. Good tuning keys and a properly filed nut are imperative to maintaining tuning. This instrument, due to the cheap production factors, simply does not hold tune well. The tuning keys have a very poor turn ratio, meaning it's difficult to fine tune. The mandolin is all about fine tuning, so this is a loss from the start. The nut and bridge are hastily filed, expect your strings to "catch" in the nut when you tune. This happened plenty on this mandolin. Once I finally got it in tune, it didn't sound bad on it's own. I did, however, sound bad for a mandolin. It plays in the correct pitch, but the tone just isn't there. And to be fair, it won't be in this price range. We're not talking about a graduated, solid wood instrument here. We're dealing with a product which was produced by the lowest bidder. Intonation is key to an instrument getting and staying in tune. It is important to note that this mandolin isn't properly designed to compensate for intonation perfectly. Even when in tune, you will need to be prepared to sound out of tune on some frets. This is just a thing that happens with cheaply made mandolins. After getting it in tune and setting the action, there were still some frets that just wouldn't play sound out. This is because the frets are hastily glued in and receive practically no proper leveling. I played three of these mandolins in total, and they all had this issue. You can get the notes to sound out by raising the action, but by the time all the notes sound out, it's unplayably high. Your hands would cramp up immediately if you were a beginner. A "good" mandolin starts around the $200-250 range. Look at Gretsch!

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Practicing10
  2. Back-Up1
  3. Travel1
  4. To use, at all, needs a LOT of work!1
  5. Jamming1
Cons
  1. Not Consistent2
  2. Cheap Tailpiece & Pickguard Hardware1
  3. Poor Tone Quality1
  4. Strings are terrible1
  5. Tuners need to be replaced1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced9
  2. Novice5
  3. Professional Musician4
Pros
  1. Good Tone13
  2. Consistent6
  3. Well Built / Quality2
  4. Great Value1
  5. Long Life1

Reviewed by 23 customers

  • Great value for a banger!

    5

    submitted3 years ago

    byJosh

    fromColorado

    I picked this up on impulse while on a work trip. I'd been wanting a mandolin for a while but hadn't pulled the trigger yet. Since I was going to have to carry it back on the plane I didn't want to over spend. I was just looking for something that if it got damaged, I would have already gotten my value from. This was it!! I wasn't sure how long the transition from guitar would take, but I bought this from GC on Friday, by Monday I was playing "Going to California" fairly clean. The tailpiece and pickguard hardware look a little cheap, but the machine heads look and feel good. No major tuning issues. GC setup had the intonation set pretty good. Tonal quality is impressive at this price point. My only complaint is that this instrument must have been sitting on the shelf for a while because the strings are corroded and need to be replaced for optimal sound. Honestly, I could have thrown this instrument away at the end of my 5 day business trip and would have felt like I got my monies worth out of it. But, I was so impressed with the quality of it, that I'd rather keep it around for a banger after I step up to a nicer model (which doesn't have to be right away since this thing plays and sounds so good). I am giving this instrument 5 stars for overall value. It is a pretty decent little instrument, especially when the price is taken into account. It isn't the finest mandolin on the market, but it also isn't the same price as the finer instruments. If you're picking one up to learn, or just want a decent mandolin that you don't mind if it gets beat up, this is perfect. One final thought - somebody at the airport was asking about my instrument and commented that it "looks expensive". I agree, Savannah did a good job on the finish (at least for the one I got).

  • Super value mandolin!

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byDon

    fromKingston Ontario Canada

    I'll be using this instrument for recordings I make in my home studio. I have a more expensive 12 string mando/guitar which is great for rhythm work but not so easy for single note playing and that's where this instrument will shine....

  • Terrible tuners, horrible strings, not worth returning.

    1

    submitted5 years ago

    byV A D

    fromSouth East Texas

    I was going to gift this to my daughter, so much for that idea.

  • You get what you pay for...

    1

    submitted5 years ago

    byBrent L

    fromKnoxville, Tn

    Tuner on the 2nd string has a defective worm gear. Nearly impossible to tune as the tuner is so sloppy.

  • Intonation was poor

    2

    submitted5 years ago

    byTom S

    fromLong Island, NY

    Don't know if it was just the one I received, but the intonation was not up to par. Nice looking but would not meet my needs.

  • Great Mandolin for the price!

    5

    submitted5 years ago

    byMike T

    fromAkron, Ohio

    Got this on a Deal Of the Day and quite surprised with the instrument. Decent build and quality. Came with great instructions on how to setup the mandolin - and after following the instructions - I have a decent sounding Mandolin.

Q&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byMicky

    fromAlbuquerque NM

    Is this a good model for a beginner?

    Open Reply - Beau
    This mandolin would be a good choice for all beginners.